You are here

Two-Day Getaway to Lincoln

Husker football, college museums and a booming Haymarket district entertain visitors in the state capital.

Nebraska State Capitol

+ enlarge

Sunken Gardens of Lincoln

+ enlarge

Pinnacle Bank Arena

+ enlarge

Memorial Stadium, home of Husker football

+ enlarge

Lincoln Children's Zoo. Photo courtesy of Nebraska Tourism

+ enlarge

Home to the University of Nebraska, this college town scores on its own with beautiful blooms in the Sunken Gardens of Lincoln, a lively entertainment district and the Art Deco-style capitol. Engaging museums, quirky shops and interesting restaurants keep the city busy even after school is out.

For modern amenities near the arena and Haymarket, you won’t go wrong staying at either the Courtyard by Marriott (from $149) or the Hilton Garden Inn (from $129).

Day 2

Crepes and coffee roasted in-house start the day at Cultiva Coffee near the Capitol.

Annuals bloom in the themed display at the Sunken Gardens of Lincoln; past designs have included peacocks and Van Gogh’s The Starry Night.

Anchoring the Haymarket District, Lazlo’s Brewery and Grill serves excellent beer-cheese soup and a spicy voodoo chicken as well as year-round and seasonal craft beers from its own Empyrean Brewing Co.

Free samples help customers find a favorite among the 160 types of licorice from 12 countries at Licorice International.

Each year, the Sheldon Museum of Art (on the University of Nebraska campus) holds about 20 exhibitions focusing on American art.

Visitors fly through black holes and swim with whales in a 360-degree virtual environment in the Fulldome Experience at the university’s Mueller Planetarium.

If you’re hungry for an exotic meal, try curried specialities at Lincoln landmark The Oven or Thai creations at The Blue Orchid.

One big party

Shop the blocks of renovated brick buildings in the Haymarket restaurant and entertainment district, then top it off with a performance at Pinnacle Bank Arena, which draws the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Linkin Park. (402) 904-4444; pinnaclebankarena.com

Icon

Husker football Tickets to football games at Memorial Stadium are tough to get (sold out since 1962). But visitors can see where the magic happens during a self-guided tour (on nongame days) that includes a display of the Huskers’ three Heisman trophies and an enormous weight room. (402) 472-3333; huskers.com

By the numbers

Eleven lemurs, four river otters and about 400 other creatures draw visitors to the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. In the summer, a ride on Iron Horse, a miniature train that's been chugging aound the zoo for 50-plus years now, gives peeks at some of the residents and the lush grounds where they live. (402) 475-6741; lincolnzoo.org